May 28

Born in 1676 to a noble family in Venice, Jacopo Riccati pursued mathematics over a political career. He studied under prominent scholars and corresponded with leading mathematicians of his era. Riccati's work on differential equations led to the formulation of the Riccati equation, a foundational concept in mathematical analysis. He also published studies on infinite series and challenged existing theories in calculus. Though offered academic posts abroad, he chose to conduct research privately while serving as a local magistrate. His mathematical legacy continues to influence modern differential equations and analytical methods.

Born in 1738 in Saintes, Joseph-Ignace Guillotin studied medicine and became an advocate for legal reform. As a member of the National Assembly during the French Revolution, he campaigned against cruel punishments. Guillotin proposed a mechanical device for executions that aimed to be swift and less painful. Though he did not invent the guillotine, his advocacy led to its adoption as France's standard execution method. He later served as a deputy for Paris but withdrew from public life after the Reign of Terror. Guillotin's name remains associated with the device, symbolizing both revolutionary ideals and the era's violence.

Louis Agassiz was a Swiss-born naturalist who became one of America's foremost scientists of the 19th century. He founded the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology and introduced rigorous field-based research methods. His studies of fossil fish and glaciers laid the foundation for modern paleontology and glaciology. A fearless lecturer, he captivated audiences with vivid descriptions of the Ice Age and animal classification. Agassiz's legacy is complex; while his scientific achievements endure, some of his views on race have been reassessed.

Alexander Mitscherlich was a German chemist who made significant advances in the study of chemical equilibria and thermochemistry. He served as a professor at Leipzig University, where his research established foundational laws of reciprocal relations in chemical reactions. His experiments on heat effects in crystalline compounds influenced the emerging field of physical chemistry. Mitscherlich's textbooks and lectures were instrumental in training a generation of German scientists in quantitative chemical methods. His work laid the groundwork for later developments in thermodynamics and materials science.

Marian Smoluchowski was a Polish physicist born in 1872 who made foundational contributions to the theory of Brownian motion and the kinetic theory of gases. His pioneering research on critical opalescence and fluctuations advanced understanding of phase transitions and statistical physics. He held professorships at Lviv University and the Jagiellonian University. An avid mountaineer, Smoluchowski climbed in the Tatra Mountains and documented his expeditions. His theoretical work influenced future developments in physical chemistry and thermodynamics. Despite his premature death in 1917, his scientific legacy endures in textbooks and ongoing research on stochastic processes. Smoluchowski is celebrated as one of the founders of modern statistical mechanics.

Paul Pelliot was a French sinologist and explorer born in 1878, renowned for his meticulous studies of Chinese history and language. He participated in the French Trans-Asian expedition to Turkestan from 1906 to 1908, where he acquired and documented thousands of ancient manuscripts. Pelliot's work at the Dunhuang caves unveiled critical Buddhist and historical texts, enriching Western understanding of Central Asian culture. He served as a lecturer at the Collège de France, sharing insights from his explorations and research. Pelliot's linguistic expertise and fieldwork methods set high standards in Oriental studies. His publications include detailed analyses of Silk Road civilizations and Chinese epigraphy. He died in 1945, leaving a legacy as one of the greatest 20th-century scholars of Sinology.

Milutin Milanković was a Serbian mathematician, astronomer, and geophysicist born in 1879, best known for formulating the Milankovitch cycles. His theory explained how variations in Earth's orbit and axial tilt drive long-term climate changes and ice ages. Milanković studied at the University of Vienna and later held academic positions in Belgrade and Zagreb. He also contributed to celestial mechanics, the theory of thermal layers in Earth's atmosphere, and wrote foundational works on climate science. His research influenced modern geology and climatology, and the Milankovitch cycles remain central to paleoclimatology. Milanković received numerous honors for his interdisciplinary achievements. He passed away in 1958, leaving a profound legacy in Earth sciences.

Born in 1912, Herman Johannes was a pioneering engineer and educator in Indonesia. He contributed to the development of geology and mining research as a professor at the University of Indonesia. Johannes served as Minister of Public Works and later as a member of the national legislature. His research advanced Indonesia’s infrastructure planning and natural resource management. As a university leader, he championed scientific education and academic freedom. He was honored with national awards for his service to science and the state. Johannes passed away in 1992, remembered for bridging academia and governance.

Born in 1912, Ruby Payne-Scott was a pioneering figure in radio astronomy. She conducted early experiments mapping solar radio emissions and helped establish interferometry techniques. Payne-Scott joined the Radiophysics Laboratory at CSIRO during World War II, contributing to radar research. After the war, she focused on developing radio telescopes and advancing astronomical observations. She also advocated for women scientists and challenged discriminatory employment policies. Her work laid foundations for modern radio astronomy in Australia and globally. Payne-Scott died in 1981, celebrated as a mentor and innovator in science.

Joseph Greenberg (1915–2001) was an American linguist and professor at Stanford University. He developed mass comparison techniques to classify the world's languages. Greenberg proposed the division of African languages into Afroasiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Niger–Congo families. His research on linguistic universals shaped the field of typology. He authored influential works such as 'Language Universals' and 'Universals of Grammar'. While his broad classification methods sparked debate, they left a lasting impact on comparative linguistics.

Barry Commoner (1917–2012) was an American biologist and a leading figure in the environmental movement. He formulated the Four Laws of Ecology, laying the foundation for modern ecological science. Commoner founded the Center for the Biology of Natural Systems at Washington University in St. Louis. He authored influential books such as 'The Closing Circle' that warned of ecological collapse. In 1980, he ran for President as the Citizens Party candidate, bringing environmental issues into national politics. His work bridged science and activism, inspiring later generations of environmentalists.

Roger Fisher (1922–2012) was a Harvard Law School professor and pioneer in the study of negotiation. He co-founded the Program on Negotiation at Harvard University. Fisher co-authored 'Getting to Yes,' a bestseller that transformed conflict resolution practices. His research emphasized principled negotiation and mutual gains strategies. He consulted for governments and corporations worldwide on dispute resolution. Fisher's work laid the foundation for modern negotiation and mediation theory.